Category: Cove Rangers

The curtain fell on the 2013/14 season for Lossiemouth as the Coasters were beaten by Cove Rangers at Allan Park. First half goals from Jamie Lennox and Chris Clark had the hosts ahead as Lossie failed to trouble the Toonsers, and Lennox doubled his tally with the final goal of the afternoon to end a mixed season for Lossie.

The visitors started with Glen Fraser getting a rare start in goals, while Shawn Scott dropped to the bench. Cove tried out Craig Reid in goals and were hoping for a win to boost their lamentable league position, and one of the worst SHFL title defences in history.

Fine weather met the sides as they trotted out onto a tatty-looking Allan Park pitch, with sections needing more time to heal after a long season and several games in quick succession. Cove had the early chances, the best falling to Barrie Stephen who saw his shot sail wide of goal. Fifteen minutes in, Cove took the lead. Youngster Stuart Taylor turned Greig Watson on the edge of the penalty area before delivering a perfect cross for Jamie LENNOX to head home.

Lossie pressed for an equaliser but found Cove tougher to break down than they had been on their visit to Grant Park only a month before. Darren Bailey went close with a long range effort that nicked the post on its way out for a goal kick.

Glen Fraser kept the Coasters in the game with a tremendous one handed save soon after. Barrie Stephen lobbed the ball into the air ahead of Michael Selfridge and the resulting header looked to be sailing in at the base of the near post, only for Fraser to push the ball wide at the last with an outstretched arm. At the other end, Tony Ross took matters into his own hands and sprinted down the wing towards goal, thumping a shot at Reid which was held at the second attempt.

Jamie McKinnon makes a last gasp tackle

Cove doubled their lead midway through the half, and Chris CLARK won’t have scored many as good as this in all his years as a footballer. Allowed time to dwell on the ball just inside the area, Clark, who started with his back to goal, managed to turn before unleashing an unstoppable effort across the face of goal and beyond a despairing Fraser.

Half time – Cove Rangers 2-0 Lossiemouth

The second half was played with all the gusto of a pre-season friendly, and the crowd seemed content with things, the Cove fans happy with their sides lead while the Lossie support were content to see their side keep the hosts at bay for the remainder of the game. Lossie almost hauled themselves back into the tie when Jamie McKinnon, possibly playing his last game for the club, powered a header goalbound, but was denied a scoring farewell as Reid met the ball and pushed it over the bar.

The save spurred Cove on and soon after they put the game beyond doubt. Poor defending saw the ball break to an unmarked Jamie LENNOX and he took a touch before curling the ball back into the box and past a stranded Fraser.

With the game drawing to a close and Cove comfortably in the lead, the last thing the thirsty crowd needed was any kind of a delay in proceedings, but a broken corner flag held things up to the dismay of all those needing back to the bar.

The defeat does nothing to affect Lossiemouths final placing in the league, which was decided a few weeks back due to Keith finding some end of season form and inching slowly away from the bottom four. Cove, meanwhile, still have games to play as they look to make up some ground on title winners Brora Rangers, who ended their season

Lossiemouth and Cove Rangers played out an entertaining goalless draw at a chilly Grant Park, with both sides creating enough chances to take all three points. The best chance fell to the hosts in the shape of a second half penalty award, but Callum Dunbar scuffed his effort wide of goal.

Lossie gave Shawn Scott his first home game since beginning his fourth spell at the club, while Darren Bailey missed out due to suspension following his sending off at Deveronvale at the weekend. Cove arrived on the back of a defeat at Turriff, which itself followed a loss on penalties to Buckie Thistle in the Highland League Cup, and the Toonsers weak defence of their title has left manager Kevin Tindal wondering which game will be his last.

Rumours of Cove’s demise appeared to have been overplayed, at least in the early stages, as the Tooners moved about the park at pace with Michael Selfridge and Ryan Scott tearing down the wing and stretching Lossie at the back. Selfridge had the first chance of the game, flashing a shot across the face of goal, before Stirling Smith tested Errol Watson with a shot from outside the area.

Lossie’s new and experienced strike force of Ryan Green and Shawn Scott were looking sharp and Biscuits added a new dimension to a hardworking side that has occasionally looked a little short on ideas. Callum Dunbar came closest to breaking the deadlock when he took possession from a cleared corner and rattled the crossbar with long range effort.

The chances kept coming for both sides, with Biscuits again trying to find his shooting boots by firing an effort at Reid from outside the area, but power was sacrificed for accuracy and the Cove keeper held onto the ball comfortably. At the other end, Connor Scully drew a diving save from Watson as the game continued to flow from end to end.

The half drew to a close in controversial style. With the ball heading out for a throw in to Lossie on the enclosure side of the pitch and Scott Dunn jogging after it, Clark Bain attempted to win possession but in doing so decided to shove Dunn in the back of the head, leaving the Lossie man in a heap. The referee flashed the red card at the raging Bain who seemed surprised at the outcome of his actions, leaving his team in the lurch and Lossie with an advantage going into the second half.

Half time – Lossiemouth 0-0 Cove Rangers

The opening stages of the second half were dominated by the visitors, and Smith and Selfridge were again causing problems for Lossie, with the former slicing wide a shot from 25 yards before Selfridge brought out another save from Watson.

Ten minutes into the half, Lossie were handed a chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. A foul on Scott Miller saw the referee point to the spot, and after a conversation with his linesman who initially pointed to the corner flag, Callum Dunbar steadied himself for the spot kick and proceeded to scuff it wide of the right hand post with the keeper looking on.

The miss failed to dampen the hosts enthusiasm and Scott Wilson almost made up for Dunbars miss when he careered into the box and thumped a shot just wide of the same post.

With time running out, Cove knew the next goal would win the game and Connor Scully stung the palms of Watson with a curling free kick from the edge of the area. A rash of substitutes slowed the tempo of the game briefly, but neither side seemed happy to settle for a point. The fresh legs of Jamie Lennox were instrumental in creating the best chance of the half for Cove when he sprinted through the defence and into the box, only to find Watson once again on hand to deflect the ball out for a corner.

Neither side could improve on the chances created thus far in the closing stages and the game finished goalless, and both sides left the pitch arguing their case for all three points. The results moves Lossie closer to Keith and within a point of doubling last seasons total with games to spare, while for Cove the draw ends a poor run of form but does nothing to help them claw their way back into the top half of the table. The sides will meet again in Aberdeen sometime before the end of the season, with the date still to be arranged.

With the season winding down, more Press and Journal Highland League fixtures have been announced and Lossiemouth have been handed a midweek home game against Cove Rangers on Wednesday, March 26th. KO will be at 2000hrs.

Details of Lossiemouth’s remaining fixture away to Cove Rangers will be announced shortly.